While many projects are obviously best left to the professionals (such as building a new pool), others definitely fall into potential do-it-yourself (DIY) territory. Below are some considerations to take into account when trying to decide whether you can handle your next big project yourself or whether you need professional help:
Expertise: Do you have any experience or related experience at all with what the project requires? If you’ve installed tile before, then building a mortared stone flower bed should be pretty easy for you, as you likely already have some of the tools and the jobs are very similar in execution. If you’ve never done any similar work, well, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible to go the DIY route, but only do so if you’re willing to work slowly, make lots of mistakes, and learn on the job.
Expense: This is a big one, for all the obvious reasons. If it’s a job that requires a lot of work but cheap materials, then DIY may be the best choice, as your mistakes cost you time but very little money.
If you’re thinking of installing expensive tile on a huge patio but have never laid tile before, then you’d probably lean towards hiring a pro. The bigger and more expensive the job is, the more likely you should be to seek help. We all like to find ways to save money but it’s a big, expensive job for a reason, which is usually because it’s beyond the scope of what most homeowners can do themselves.
Be Honest With Yourself: This is hard, especially for those of us who like to do things ourselves, but everyone can’t be good at everything. If you like to jump in and get things done without a lot of measuring and prep work, you probably shouldn’t be re-tiling your bathroom yourself, and should instead call in a pro.
Your Time is Worth Money: Don’t forget that your time is valuable, too. While it may seem like going the DIY route will save you money, it could actually be more expensive, even if your out of pocket expenses are less. If you spend a week on a job that would take a pro a day, just to save $100, you’re actually losing money by doing the work yourself, as the extra time you spend is usually more valuable than the $100 you saved.
